Magnetic coupler with force balancing

ABSTRACT

A magnetic coupling system and a method of balancing a magnetic coupler are provided. The magnetic coupling system includes a follower magnet magnetically coupled to a drive magnet, and a magnetic balancing component located to a side of the follower magnet. Movement of the drive magnet induces corresponding movement of the follower magnet. The magnetic balancing component and the drive magnet exert attractive magnetic forces on the follower magnet in opposite directions.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to provide relevant background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of thedescribed embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understood that thesestatements are to be read in this light and not as admissions of priorart.

Magnetic couplers are used to translate motion between physicalbarriers, in which a drive magnet is located on one side of the barrierand a follower magnet is located on the other side. The drive magnet iscoupled to an actuator which moves the drive magnet, and the drivemagnet induces movement in the follower magnet through magneticcoupling. The follower magnet then moves another element or device tocarry out the intended function. Devices with magnetic couplers, such asvalves, are often used in oil and gas operations, in which the devicemay come into contact with various fluids and chemicals that may bepotentially detrimental to the device over time. Magnetic couplers allowsensitive components such as actuators and electronics to be containedand isolated from the fluids while still carrying out the devicefunction through actuation of the follower magnet.

The drive magnet and the follower magnet of a magnetic coupler areattracted to each other and exert an attractive magnet force on eachother. This is what enables magnetic coupling. However, the constantpull strains the structural assemblies of the magnets, such as bearingsand other components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the embodiments of the invention,reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a linear magnetic coupling system withmagnetic force balancing, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rotational magnetic coupling systemwith magnetic force balancing, in accordance with one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 3 is an internal view of an example flow control device with forcebalanced magnetic coupler, in accordance with one or more embodiments;and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example magnetic balancing component,such as the magnetic balancing component of FIG. 3 , in accordance withone or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a magnetic coupler system that includesa magnetic balancing component placed on a side of a follower magnetopposite of a drive magnet such that the magnet balancing componentexerts a force on the follower magnet in the opposite direction, therebyneutralizing some of the attractive normal force between the followermagnet and the drive magnet. This relieves some of the strain on thestructural assembly of the follower magnet, increasing performance anddurability of the device.

Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a linearmagnetic coupling system 100 with magnetic force balancing, inaccordance with one or more embodiments. The system 100 includes one ormore drive magnets 102 and one or more follower magnets 104. The drivemagnet 102 and the follower magnet 104 are magnetically coupled suchthat movement of one can induce corresponding movement in the other. Thedrive magnet 102 is also coupled to an actuator 106 that is coupled toelectronics 108 and a power supply 110.

The actuator 106 may be any type of actuator, such as, but not limitedto, an electromechanical actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumaticactuator, or any combination thereof. The power supply 110 may be anysuitable power supply such as a battery and may be a local or a remotepower supply. The electronics 108 control the actuator 106, which movesthe drive magnet 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive magnet102 moves linearly and thus induces corresponding linear movement in thefollower magnet 104.

The follower magnet 104 is coupled to an actuable element 112, in whichmovement of the follower magnet 104 moves the actuable element 112 toperform a function. For example, the actuable element 112 may be avalve, and movement of the follower magnet can open or close the valve.The actuable element 112 can be any type of device designed to becontrollably moved or actuated, including but not limited to an arm, aplug, a valve, or even another actuator. Thus, the actuator 106 controlsthe actuable element 112 via the drive and follower magnets 102, 104without being physically coupled to the actuable element 112. In one ormore embodiments, the drive magnet 102 and the follower magnet 104 mayinclude a plurality of permanent magnets arranged to form a Halbacharray, in which the magnetic field on one side of the magnet array isaugmented, while the magnetic field on the other sides of the magnetarray is decreased.

The north-south orientations of the drive magnet 102 and the followermagnet 104, as depicted in FIG. 1 , are exemplary orientations.Alternatively, the drive magnet 102 and the follower magnet 104 can bepositioned with other north-south orientations, not shown. The drivemagnet 102 and the follower magnet 104 may have the same or differentamount of individual magnets that may be the same or different in size.In one or more examples, each of the drive magnet 102 and the followermagnet 104 can independently include 2, 3, 4, or 5 individual magnets to6, 8, 10, 12, 15, or more individual magnets. For example, as depictedin FIG. 1 , each of the drive magnet 102 and the follower magnet 104includes five individual magnets.

In one or more embodiments, the drive magnet 102 and the follower magnet104 are physically isolated from each other. For example, the drivemagnet 102 may be located in a drive chamber 114 and the follower magnet104 is located outside of the drive chamber 114, such as in a followerchamber 116. In some applications, the follower chamber 116 may beexposed to an impure fluid such as production fluid that may containvarious contaminants that may cause erosion or other wear on mechanicalor electrical equipment. By isolating the drive magnet 102 from thefollower magnet 104, the drive magnet can be physically isolated fromthe impure fluid, thereby increasing the life of the drive magnet 102,the actuator 108 and any other equipment physically coupled thereto. Dueto magnetic coupling between the drive magnet 102 and the followermagnet 104, the actuable element 112 can still be controlled by theactuator 106 despite a physical barrier located between the drive magnet102 and the follower magnet 104.

The exemplary system 100, depicted in FIG. 1 , includes a retractablegate 118 as the actuable device 112, in which the retractable gate 118can be extended or otherwise moved into a tubing 120 to form anobstruction within the tubing 120 to stop the passage of a downhole tool122. For example, the actuable device 112 and the retractable gate 118can be laterally extended, depicted by arrow 113, into and out of thetubing 120. The retractable gate 118 can be retracted and extended bycontrolling the actuator 106 and/or drive magnet 102. The tubing 120 mayalso be filled with production fluid or drilling fluid and the isolationof the drive and follower chambers 114, 116 effective to keep theactuator 106 and the drive magnet 102 isolated from the fluid.

As the drive magnet 102 and the follower magnet 104 are magneticallycoupled, the magnets 102, 104 experience a magnetic coupling forcetowards each other. This attractive force increases the load on theactuator 106 because both the drive and follower magnets 102, 104experience friction and other contact forces against each other or theirrespective chambers 114, 116. To mitigate this issue, the system 100further includes one or more magnetic balancing components 124. Themagnetic balancing component 124 is located to a side of the followermagnet 104 opposite the drive magnet 102, as depicted in FIG. 1 . Thus,the magnetic balancing component 124 can be positioned at an angle of 0°or within a range from about −75° to about 75°, about −60° to about 60°,about −45° to about 45°, about −30° to about 30°, about −15° to about15°, or about −5° to about 5°, relative to a line or a plane extendingthrough the drive magnet 102 and the follower magnet 104. In otherembodiments, the magnetic balancing component 124 can also be located toa side of or proximate to the drive magnet 102 in order to reduce thefriction on the drive magnet 102 (not shown). The magnetic balancingcomponent 124 may include a ferromagnetic material that exerts a pullingforce on the follower magnet 104 in the opposite direction as does thedrive magnet 102. Thus, the total normal force exerted onto the followermagnet 104 is reduced if not substantially neutralized. As such, thestress on the structural assembly of the follower magnet 104 is reducedas well and the load needed by the actuator 106 is reduced.

The magnetic balancing component 124 may take on a variety of shapes,sizes, and materials, with the appropriate shape, size, and materialchosen to effectively neutralize the normal force exerted on thefollower magnet 104 by the drive magnet 102. The magnetic balancingcomponent 124 may be located within a chamber physically isolated fromthe follower magnet 104 or within the same chamber as the followermagnet 104 or in fluid communication with the follower magnet 104. Theremay or may not be a physical barrier between the follower magnet 104 andthe magnetic balancing component 124. In one or more embodiments, themagnetic balancing component 124 may be placed external to a magneticcoupler device to force balance the device. Similarly, the magneticbalancing component 124 can be used to retro fit an existing magneticcoupling device into a magnetic coupling system with magnetic forcebalancing.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rotational magnetic coupling system200 with magnetic force balancing, in accordance with one or moreembodiments. The system 200 includes one or more drive magnets 202 andone or more follower magnets 204. The drive magnet 202 and the followermagnet 204 are magnetically coupled such that movement of one can inducecorresponding movement in the other. In this embodiment, the drivemagnet 202 is coupled to and driven by a turbine 206. When the turbine206 rotates, such as when acted on by fluid flow, the drive magnet 202is rotated. Rotation of the drive magnet 202 causes the follower magnet204 to rotate correspondingly. The follower magnet 204 is coupled to agenerator 208, and rotation of the follower magnet 204 causes thegenerator 208 to produce power. For example, the drive magnet 202 can becoupled to the turbine 206 by a shaft 205 and the follower magnet 204can be coupled to the generator 208 by a shaft 207. One or more sets ofthrust bearings 216, 218 can be adjacent or otherwise located aroundeach of the shafts 205, 207 and used to support large loads without amagnetic balance.

The drive magnet 202 and the follower magnet 204 may also be physicallyisolated from each other. For example, the drive magnet 202 may belocated in a fluid path 212 and exposed to the fluid flow that turns theturbine 206. The follower magnet 204 and generator 208 may be containedwithin a follower chamber 210 physically isolated from the fluid flow bya barrier located between the drive magnet 202 and the follower magnet204. The follower chamber 210 may include or be filled with clean fluidand/or air and subsequently sealed. However, due to magnetic couplingbetween the drive magnet 202 and the follower magnet 204, the rotationof the turbine 206 is able to actuate the generator 208 via rotation ofthe drive and follower magnets 202, 204.

To mitigate the normal force exerted on the follower magnet 204 by thedrive magnet 202, the system 200 further includes a magnetic balancingcomponent 224 located to a side of the follower magnet 204 opposite thedrive magnet 202, as illustrated in FIG. 2 . Thus, the magneticbalancing component 224 can be positioned at an angle of 0° or within arange from about −75° to about 75°, about −60° to about 60°, about −45°to about 45°, about −30° to about 30°, about −15° to about 15°, or about−5° to about 5°, relative to a line or a plane extending through thedrive magnet 202 and the follower magnet 204. In other embodiments, themagnetic balancing component 224 can also be located to a side of orproximate to the drive magnet 202 in order to reduce the friction on thedrive magnet 202 (not shown). The magnetic balancing component 224 mayinclude a ferromagnetic material that exerts an attractive force on thefollower magnet 204 in the opposite direction as does the drive magnet202. Thus, the total normal force exerted onto the follower magnet 204is reduced if not substantially neutralized.

The magnetic balancing component 224 may take on a variety of shapes,sizes, and materials with the appropriate shape, size, and materialchosen to effectively neutralize the normal force exerted on thefollower magnet 204 by the drive magnet 202. The magnetic balancingcomponent 224 may also be located within a chamber physically isolatedfrom the follower magnet 204 or within the same chamber as the followermagnet 204. There may or may not be a physically barrier between thefollower magnet 204 and the magnetic balancing component 224.

FIG. 3 is an internal view of an example flow control device 300 withforce balanced magnetic coupler, in accordance with one or moreembodiments. The device 300 includes a housing 302, one or more drivemagnets 304, one or more follower magnets 306, and one or more magneticbalancing components 308. The drive magnet 304 is located within a drivechamber 310 of the housing 302 and the follower magnet 306 is locatedwithin a follower chamber 312 of the housing 302, physically isolatedfrom the drive chamber 310. The drive magnet 304 is coupled to anactuator 314 and movable along an actuation axis 316 within the drivechamber 310. The actuator 314 may be controlled by a controller (notshown).

The housing contains one or more materials that allow the magnetic fieldto pass between two or more magnetic assemblies. For example, thehousing 302 can be or include one or more non-ferromagnetic materials.The housing 302 can be or include, but is not limited to, one or morenon-ferromagnetic steels (e.g., austenitic stainless steel or austeniticnickel-chromium alloy, such as an INCONEL® alloy), titanium or one ormore alloys thereof, aluminum or one or more alloys thereof, one or morepolymeric materials (e.g., plastics, resins, synthetic or naturalrubbers), one or more ceramic materials, composites thereof, or anycombination thereof.

In one or more embodiments, the drive magnet 304 is controlled to movebetween linear positions on the actuation axis 316. The drive magnet 304is magnetically coupled to the follower magnet 306 so that movement ofthe drive magnet 304 moves the follower magnet 306 linearly as well. Thenorth-south orientations of the drive magnet 304 and the follower magnet306, can be positioned in any orientation configured in a Halbach array.In one or more examples, each of the drive magnet 304 and the followermagnet 306 can independently include 2, 3, 4, or 5 individual magnets to6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, or more individual magnets. For example, asdepicted in FIG. 3 , the drive magnet 304 includes eight individual,permanent magnets and the follower magnet 306 includes nine individual,permanent magnets.

The follower magnet 306 is coupled to a valve 318 located in thefollower chamber 312 and moves between an open position in which thevalve 318 is open and a closed position in which the valve 318 isclosed. When the valve is open, fluid can flow into an inlet 320 of thedevice 300 into the follower chamber 312 and out through the valve 318.When the valve 318 is closed, such a flow path is closed. Thus, the flowcontrol device 300 is operable to permit flow therethrough whileisolating the drive magnet 304, actuator 314, and other associated partsfrom the fluid.

As shown, the magnetic balancing component 308 is located within thehousing 302. In certain such embodiments, the magnetic balancingcomponent 308 may be located within a balance chamber 322 formed withinthe housing 302, isolating the magnetic balancing component 308 from thefollower chamber 312 which may be subject to fluid flow. In certainother embodiments, the balance chamber 322 may be in fluid communicationwith the follower chamber 312 and/or may be coupled to an inlet andprovide a fluid flow path. The magnetic balancing component 308 may alsobe located within the follower chamber 312. The magnetic balancingcomponent 308 is located on a side of the follower magnet 306 oppositethe drive magnet 304 such as to exert a normal force on the followermagnet 306 in the opposite direction as exerted on the follower magnet306 by the drive magnet 304. Thus, the net normal force on the followermagnet 306 is reduced or substantially neutralized, while the couplingforce between the drive magnet 304 and the follower magnet 306 istypically not reduced due to the magnetic balancing component 308. Thus,the magnetic balancing component 308 can be positioned at an angle of 0°or within a range from about −75° to about 75°, about −60° to about 60°,about −45° to about 45°, about −30° to about 30°, about −15° to about15°, or about −5° to about 5°, relative to a line or a plane extendingthrough the drive magnet 304 and the follower magnet 306.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary magnetic balancingcomponent 408 usable in any of the above embodiments. The magneticbalancing component 408 can have a variety of shapes and sizes andinclude one or more materials. The magnetic balancing component 408 maybe designed to have a sufficient mass and length, and be placed in closeenough proximity of a follower magnet (e.g., the follower magnet 306depicted in FIG. 3 ) to exert an attractive force on the follower magnetcomparable to the normal coupling force exerted on the follower magnetby the drive magnet. The shape may be a round or square rod, a tube, ora specially designed shape. The magnetic balancing component 408includes a side 430 coupled to a positioning feature 432. The side 430contains sufficient ferromagnetic material to generate balancingmagnetic force. The positioning feature 432 pushes or directs the side430 into position and leaves enough space in the balance chamber tofacilitate fluid flow therethrough.

Any of the magnets described and discussed herein, including, but notlimited to, the drive magnets 102, 202, 304 and the follower magnets104, 204, 306, can be or include one or more rare earth materials and/orone or more ferromagnetic materials. Exemplary rare earth materials ormagnets can be or include, but are not limited to, one or morelanthanide series elements (e.g., lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium,neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium,dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium),scandium, yttrium, alloys thereof, or any combination thereof. Exemplaryferromagnetic materials or magnets can be or include, but are notlimited to, one or more iron, nickel, chromium, manganese, alloysthereof, or any mixture. In one or more examples, any of the magnets,including, but not limited to, the drive magnets 102, 202, 304 and thefollower magnets 104, 204, 306, can be or include, but are not limitedto samarium cobalt magnets, neodymium magnets, ferrite magnets, or analnico magnet (e.g., iron, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, and optionallycopper and/or titanium).

The magnetic balancing component 124, 224, 308, 408 can include or bemade from, but is not limited to, one or more ferromagnetic materials,such as steel, ferritic stainless steel (e.g., annealed 416 stainlesssteel (ES-MA-19-27)), iron, nickel, chromium, manganese, alloys thereof,or any mixture thereof. In one embodiment, the magnetic balancingcomponent 124, 224, 308, 408 is a nickel alloy containing about 77 wt %of nickel, about 16 wt % of iron, about 5 wt % of copper, and about 2 wt% of molybdenum. In another embodiment, the magnetic balancing component124, 224, 308, 408 is a ferrite material containing iron oxide.

In addition to the embodiments described above, embodiments of thepresent disclosure further relate to one or more of the followingparagraphs:

1. A magnetic coupling system, comprising: a drive magnet; a followermagnet magnetically coupled to the drive magnet, wherein movement of thedrive magnet induces corresponding movement of the follower magnet; anda magnetic balancing component located to a side of the follower magnet,wherein the magnetic balancing component and the drive magnet exertattractive magnetic forces on the follower magnet in oppositedirections.

2. A magnetic coupling system, comprising: a drive magnet; a followermagnet magnetically coupled to the drive magnet, wherein movement of thedrive magnet induces corresponding movement of the follower magnet; anda magnetic balancing component located to a side of the follower magnetopposite the drive magnet, wherein the magnetic balancing component andthe driver magnet exert attractive magnetic forces on the followingmagnet in opposite directions.

3. A magnetically coupled actuation system, comprising: a driveactuator; a drive magnet coupled to and movable by the actuator; afollower magnet isolated from and magnetically coupled to the drivemagnet, wherein movement of the drive magnet induces correspondingmovement of the follower magnet; a follower device coupled to and drivenby movement of the follower magnet; and a magnetic balancing componentlocated to a side of the follower magnet opposite the drive magnet,wherein the magnetic balancing component and the drive magnet exertattractive magnetic forces on the follower magnet in oppositedirections.

4. A method of balancing a magnetic coupler, comprising: locating amagnetic balancing component to a side of a follower magnet opposite adrive magnet, wherein the follower magnet is magnetically coupled to thedrive magnet; and exerting an attractive magnetic force onto thefollower magnet in a direction opposite another attractive magneticforce exerted onto the follower magnet by the drive magnet.

5. The method of paragraph 4, further comprising moving the drive magnetand inducing movement in the follower magnet via movement of the drivemagnet.

6. The method of paragraph 5, further comprising actuating a valve viamovement of the follower magnet.

7. The method of paragraph 4, wherein the follower magnet is physicallyisolated from the drive magnet.

8. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-7,wherein the magnetic balancing component is located to the side of thefollower magnet opposite the drive magnet.

9. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-8,wherein the magnetic balancing component is located to the side of thedrive magnet.

10. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-9,further comprising a housing comprising a drive chamber in which thedrive magnet is located, a follower chamber isolated from the drivechamber and in which the follower magnet is located, and a balancingchamber in which the magnetic balancing component is located.

11. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-10,wherein the drive magnet is coupled to and movable via an actuator.

12. The system or the method of paragraph 11, wherein the actuatorcomprises at least one of an electrical system, a mechanical system, ahydraulic system, a pneumatic system, or any combination thereof.

13. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-12,wherein the follower magnet is coupled to an actuable element movable bymovement of the follower magnet.

14. The system or the method of paragraph 13, wherein the actuableelement is a valve.

15. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-14,wherein the follower device is connected to and moveable to open andclose a valve.

16. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-15,wherein the linear movement of the drive magnet induces linear movementof the follower magnet.

17. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-16,wherein rotational movement of the drive magnet induces rotationalmovement of the follower magnet.

18. The system or the method of paragraph 17, wherein the drive magnetis coupled to and driven by a turbine and the follower magnet is coupledto and actuates a generator

19. The system or the method of paragraph 18, wherein a physical barrieris located between the drive magnet and the follower magnet.

20. The system or the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-19,wherein each of the drive magnet and the follower magnet comprises aHalbach array.

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure have beendescribed. In an effort to provide a concise description of theseembodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not bedescribed in the specification. It should be appreciated that in thedevelopment of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering ordesign project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be madeto achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from oneimplementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that sucha development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, andmanufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

In the following discussion and in the claims, the articles “a,” “an,”and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of theelements. The terms “including,” “comprising,” and “having” andvariations thereof are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should beinterpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . .” Also, anyuse of any form of the terms “connect,” “engage,” “couple,” “attach,”“mate,” “mount,” or any other term describing an interaction betweenelements is intended to mean either an indirect or a direct interactionbetween the elements described. In addition, as used herein, the terms“axial” and “axially” generally mean along or parallel to a central axis(e.g., central axis of a body or a port), while the terms “radial” and“radially” generally mean perpendicular to the central axis. The use of“top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “up,” “down,”“vertical,” “horizontal,” and variations of these terms is made forconvenience, but does not require any particular orientation of thecomponents.

Certain terms are used throughout the description and claims to refer toparticular features or components. As one skilled in the art willappreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or componentby different names. This document does not intend to distinguish betweencomponents or features that differ in name but not function.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “an embodiment,” “embodiments,” “some embodiments,”“certain embodiments,” or similar language means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Thus, these phrases or similar language throughout thisspecification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the sameembodiment.

Certain embodiments and features have been described using a set ofnumerical upper limits and a set of numerical lower limits. It should beappreciated that ranges including the combination of any two values,e.g., the combination of any lower value with any upper value, thecombination of any two lower values, and/or the combination of any twoupper values are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Certain lowerlimits, upper limits and ranges appear in one or more claims below. Allnumerical values are “about” or “approximately” the indicated value, andtake into account experimental error and variations that would beexpected by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

The embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used,as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. It is tobe fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodimentsdiscussed may be employed separately or in any suitable combination toproduce desired results. In addition, one skilled in the art willunderstand that the description has broad application, and thediscussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of thatembodiment, and not intended to suggest that the scope of thedisclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic coupling system, comprising: a drivemagnet; a follower magnet located outside of physical contact andmagnetically coupled to the drive magnet, wherein rotational movement ofthe drive magnet induces a corresponding and similar rotational movementof the follower magnet; a follower device coupled to and driven bymovement of the follower magnet via a shaft; and a magnetic balancingcomponent located on an opposite side of the follower magnet relative towhere the drive magnet is located, outside of physical contact with thefollower magnet, between the follower device and the follower magnet,and through which the shaft runs, wherein the magnetic balancingcomponent and the drive magnet exert attractive magnetic forces on thefollower magnet in opposite directions.
 2. The system of claim 1,further comprising a housing comprising a chamber in which the drivemagnet is located, a follower chamber isolated from the chamber and inwhich the follower magnet and magnetic balancing component are located,wherein the drive magnet and the follower magnet experience friction andother contact forces against the respective chamber and follower chamberwhen moved during operation of the system and wherein the attractivemagnetic forces exerted on the follower magnet in opposite directionsreduce the friction on the follower magnet compared to not having theattractive magnetic forces.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the drivemagnet is coupled to and moveable via a turbine.
 4. The system of claim3, wherein the drive magnet is coupled to the turbine via a second shaftsupported by a thrust bearing.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein theshaft is supported by a thrust bearing.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein a physical barrier is located between the drive magnet and thefollower magnet.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the magneticbalancing component is positioned at an angle of at least 15 and up to75 degrees relative to a line extending through the drive magnet and thefollower magnet.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the magneticbalancing component includes a permanent magnet that comprises aferromagnetic material.
 9. A magnetically coupled actuation system,comprising: a drive actuator; a drive magnet coupled to and moveable bythe actuator; a follower magnet located physically isolated from andmagnetically coupled to the drive magnet, wherein rotational movement ofthe drive magnet induces a corresponding similar rotational movement ofthe follower magnet; a follower device coupled to and driven by movementof the follower magnet; and a magnetic balancing component comprising apermanent magnet that is physically isolated from and located to a sideof the follower magnet opposite to the drive magnet, wherein themagnetic balancing component exerts a first attractive magnetic force onthe follower magnet in a first direction, wherein the drive magnetexerts a second attractive magnetic force on the follower magnet in asecond direction opposite to the first direction that is substantiallyequal in magnitude to the first attractive magnetic force.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the follower device comprises a generator.11. The system of claim 10, wherein the follower magnet is coupled tothe generator via a shaft supported by a thrust bearing extendingthrough the magnetic balancing component.
 12. The system of claim 9,wherein a physical barrier is located between the drive magnet and thefollower magnet.
 13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a housingcomprising a chamber in which the drive magnet is located, a followerchamber isolated from the chamber and in which the follower magnet andthe magnetic balancing component are located, wherein the drive magnetand the follower magnet experience friction and other contact forcesagainst the respective chamber and follower chamber when moved duringoperation of the system and wherein first and second attractive magneticforces exerted on the follower magnet in opposite directions reduce thefriction of the follower magnet.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein thedrive actuator comprises a turbine.
 15. The system of claim 14, whereinthe drive magnet is coupled to the turbine via a second shaft supportedby a thrust bearing.
 16. The system of claim 9, wherein the followerdevice is coupled to and driven by movement of the follower magnet via afirst shaft extending through the magnetic balancing component.
 17. Amethod of balancing a magnetic coupler, comprising: locating a followermagnet to place a body of the follower magnet between a magneticbalancing component and a drive magnet, wherein the follower magnet islocated outside of physical contact with and magnetically coupled to thedrive magnet so as to create a first attractive magnetic normal forceexerted onto the follower magnet by the drive magnet; coupling thefollower magnet with a follower device, located on an opposite side ofthe magnetic balancing component relative to the follower magnet, via ashaft extending through the magnetic balancing component; and exerting asecond attractive magnetic normal force onto the follower magnet by themagnetic balancing component in a direction opposite the firstattractive magnetic normal force with substantially equal magnitudes toone another on the follower magnet from the drive magnet to balance atotal normal magnetic force exerted onto the follower magnet.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, further comprising moving the drive magnetrotationally and inducing a corresponding similar rotational movement inthe follower magnet via movement of the drive magnet.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein moving the drive magnet rotationally comprisesrotating a turbine coupled to the drive magnet.
 20. The method of claim18, wherein the follower device is a generator, the method furthercomprising actuating the generator via movement of the follower magnet.21. The method of claim 18, further comprising a housing comprising achamber in which the drive magnet is located, a follower chamberisolated from the chamber and in which the follower magnet and themagnetic balancing component are located, wherein moving the drivemagnet and the follower magnet causes the drive magnet and the followermagnet to experience friction and other contact forces against therespective chamber and follower chamber and further comprising reducingthe friction on the follower magnet with the first and second attractivemagnetic normal forces exerted on the follower magnet from the magneticbalancing component and the drive magnet.